Clasp



Feb. 19, 1529. 1,102,472

A. FRICKER CLASP Filed April 28, 1923 Federated Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES ANTHQNY FBIOKER, 03 LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

oLAsr.

Application filed April 28, 1923. Serial No. 635,290.

This invention relates to clasp structures and more particularly, to such devices for holding in a substantially upright or vertical position either one or a plurality of paper sheets, files or the like, up to thicknesses of an inch or so. The present application is a continuation in part of my prior patent for clasps, dated May 6, 1924, No. 1,493,072.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the class described having a base of simple and inexpensive form for detachably receiving and holding in a substantially upright position a clasp corresponding substantially to that shown in my prior patent before referred to, said clasp being merely provided with a plurality of easily and inexpensively formed 0 enings which cooperate with projections of t e base to provide a firm but detachable locking connection therebetween. The detachable connection of the clasp and base not only enables them to be shipped, stored and sold separately, but also enables the clasp to be used independently of the base whenever desired.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, which represents one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved device; Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 22, Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 33, Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base; Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the head or eye of my improved clasp; and Fig. 6 is a detail edge view thereof.

Referring to the drawing, my improved clasp, which forms the subject matter of the prior patent before referred to, is made from a single strip of steel of any suitable width and length, one satisfactory size of clasp being about three-fourths of an inch wide and approximately six inches long. The head of the clasp, indicated generally at 1, is in the form of a loop or eye joining the two arms 2, which lie parallel and in contact over an appreciable portion of their length, due to the formation of the clasp in a manner to impart inherent tension thereto, such that the normal position of the arms, if they could pass each other, would be at approximately right angles to each other. This eifect is secured 1n the present clasp by forming the eye 1 with two side bends 3 and an end bend 4, said bends belng put 1n the metal of the tempered strip so that subsequent tempering is unnecessary.

The side and end bends 3, 4 are formed in a manner to over-bend the material, or in other words, to put into the clasp more initial tension than is necessary, after which, one or more of the bends are straightened to take out a part of the tension and leave just the amount necessary to give the arms suflicient resiliency and holding ability and also keep them parallel in the various positions of the clasp up to full open position with the arms about an inch apart.

One of the arms 2 of the clasp is longer than the other, say approximately an inch longer, and the end of the shorter arm is flared outwardly, as at 5, so as to form a mouth adapted to readily receive the edges of the sheets of paper or the like inserted in the clasp.

The base of my improved device may be of any suitable shape or design, and of any suitable material, so long as it is of sufficient depth to receive the eye of the clasp and of sufiicient area and weight to provide a substantial support for the clasp when holding a mass of papers or the like in a substantially uprlght posltion. In the present embodiment, said base is made of pressed metal in substantially inverted saucer shape, as clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Said base, indicated enerally at 6, is formed with a circular, su stantially flat top portion 7, in the center of which is a substantially rectangular opening or cut out portion 8, of such size and shape as to snugly receive the eye 1 of the clasp, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. In forming said opening, a portion of the metal of this part of the top portion 7 is bent or turned down at the sides 9 of the opening so as to provide two opposed, depending in tegral ears 10. Said ears are of substantially semi-circular form to correspond to the shape of the ed es of the clasp eye, which edges are engaged y the ears when the device is assembled, said ears assisting the locking connections, now to be described, in holding the clasp in a substantially rigid, upright position.

Said ears, which at their junction or merger with the top portion 7 are narrower than the opening between sides 11 of opening 8, are bent or turned down so as to leave in each corner of the opening a portion of the metal of the top portion 7, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4, thereby providing four projections 13 which are adapted tdco-operatewith suitable openings, or, as illustrated, notches 14 in the material forming the eye'of theclasp to provide a firm but detachable locking conmotion between the base and clasp. The notches 14 of the eye of the clasp are cut in the edges of the strip at 'the'side bends 3, there being two recesses at each side bend, as clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The device is assembled by passing the arms 2 of the clasp up through op'enmg8 until the side bends 3 of the'yclas'p eye are reached, whereupon the corner projections 13 of the base will enter the recesses 14 of the clasp, and thereb firmly butjdetac'hably lock the clasp and arms 2 of the clasp eziten'iilingin'a substan-v tially upright position, or if the base is not in a horizontal position, the arms will extend in a position substantially normal thereto. When it isdesir'cd todetach the clasp, so as to use' it independently, or for other reasons, the portions of the clasp just above the side bends 3 are pressed inwardly, so as to disengage the projections and recesses, whereupon the arms of theclasp may be readily withdrawn through opening 8 0f the base.

Having described my invention,'I claim:

1. A device of theclass described, comprising a sprin metal clasp having-an eye and'two arms, t e material of said eye being providedwith an opening,,and a base having an opening to receive'thefclasp eye to hold the arms thereof outstanding therefrom, said base being provided with a projection adapted to enter theopeningof the clasp eye to maintain the parts in assembled relation, said base being also provided at the sides of said opening with ears adapted to engage the edges of said clasp eye, whereby said clasp will be firmly heldin said relation.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a spring metal clasp having an eye and two arms, the material of said eye being provided on opposite sides with notches, and a base having a substantially rectangular opening to receive the clasp eye to hold the clas arms in a position outstanding from the ase, said base being provided in opposite corners of saidopenmg with projections adapted to enter said notches, whereby the clasp and base will be firmly secured together.

3. A device of the character described comprising a spring metal clasp having an eye and two arms, the material of said eye being provided with an opening, and a base having an opening to receive the clasp eye to hold the clasp arms in a position outstanding from the base, said base being provided with a projection adapted to enter said opening ase together with the of the clasp eye, whereby the clasp and the base will be firml secured together, said base being also provi ed at one side of said 0 enmg with an ear adapted to engage said 0 asp eye, thereby assisting in maintaining the clasp arm in said outstandin position, the formation of said ear providmg the projection of the base.

L A device of the class described, comprising a clasp of resilient material formed with an eye and two arms and adaptedfor independent use, and a base having an opening to receive the clasp eye and confine said clasp with its arms outstanding therefrom, said clas and base having portions adapted 'for inter ocking engagement to maintain said described assembled relation, the resiliency of the material forming the eye permitting separation of the clasp from the base by pressing .3116 material-of said clasp eye inwardly just above the base. Y

5. A device of the class described, comprising a clasp of fiat resilient material formed with an eye and two arms and adapted for independent use, and a base having a generally rectangular opening adapted to receive the eye of the clasp and confine said clasp with its arms outstanding therefrom, the material of said clasp eye having an opening, and said base having aprojection in its opening adaptedfor interlocking engagement with said.

clasp eye opening to maintain said described assembled relation, the resiliency of the material forming the eye permitting separation of the clasp from the base by pressing the material of said clasp eye inwardly just above the base.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a clasp of resilient material formed with an'eye and two arms and adapted for independent use, and a base having an opening ada ted torec-eive the eye of'the clasp and eon ne said clasp with its arms outstanding therefrom, the material of said clasp eye having openings on opposite sides, and said base having corresponding projections in its opening adapted for interlocking engagement with said clasp eye openings to maintain said described assembled relation, the resiliency of the material forming the eye permitting separation of the clasp from the base by pressing the material of said clasp eye inwardly just above the base.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a clasp of resilient material formed With an eye and two arms and adapted for independent use, and a sheet metal base having a clasp eye receiving opening the sides of which are adapted tobe resiliently engaged by the clasp eye, and ears at the sides of said opening adapted to laterally confine the clasp in a plane therebetween.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a clasp of resilient material formed with an eye and two arms and adapted for inde pendentgse, and a sheet metal base having a said clasp eye to allow disassembly of said clasp eye receiving opening adapted to conclasp and base and ears at the sides of said fine said clasp with its arms outstanding opening andadapted to abnt said eye to asslst 10 therefrom, said plasp and base having p01 1n mamtalnmg Sfild lelatlon- 5 tions adapted for interlocking engagement In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my sigto maintain said described assembled relation nature. and adapted for disengagement by springing ANTHONY FRICKER. 

